Camellia transnokoensis Sweet Jane

Sweet Jane Camellia is a bushy plant with a flexible habit, very natural-looking, which perfectly embodies the appeal of this more rustic variety of camellia. Endowed with incredible charm, it produces abundant small flowers in early spring that resemble tiny roses, doll flowers that defy the April showers. Starting off as pink buds, they open up to a pale pink colour with a slightly deeper pink centre, adorning beautiful evergreen foliage with a delightful bronze-copper hue when budburst takes place. Its moderate growth is well suited for creating flowering hedges or growing in containers on the terrace.

This horticultural variety is the result of cross-breeding with Camellia transnokoensis, a botanical species with evergreen foliage native to mountainous areas of Taiwan. Like all camellias, it belongs to the family of Theaceae. 'Sweet Jane' has an overall erect habit, more tall than wide, and dense vegetation supported by flexible branches. Its growth is slow: by age 10, it will reach approximately 1 metre (3.4 feet) in height and 80 cm (32 in) in width. An adult plant will typically reach an average height of 1.20 m (4 ft) and a width of 90 cm (35 in), depending on the growing conditions. It starts flowering as early as January in mild climates, peaking in March-April. 'Sweet Jane' produces a large quantity of very small double flowers, in two shades of pink, with a diameter of approximately 3-4 cm (1.6 in). Its young leaves are tinted with bronze-copper, then they take on a light green colour when mature. They measure 5 to 7 cm (2 to 3 in) in length and have a slightly glossy appearance on the upper surface. Hardy down to -12°C, this variety is grown in partial shade or full sun, sheltered from cold winds. It thrives in acidic, humus-rich, moist, and light soils.

Plant the 'Sweet Jane' Camellia in a low country-style hedge or in an ericaceous bed alongside azaleas, Skimmia, Japanese quince, and heathers. Plant it in autumn with some spring bulbs e.g. tulips and daffodils for a magnificent and colourful display. Its compact size also allows it to be grown in containers for many years. Place it on a partially shaded terrace, alongside a wall, protected from cold and drying winds.

The name Camellia was given to the plant in 1735 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Von Linnaeus, in tribute to Georg Josef Kamel (Latinized as « Camellus »), an apothecary in the service of the Jesuits in the Philippines in the late 17th century. It was not until 1792 that the Camellia arrived in Europe.